College
College of Science
Department
Chemistry
Abstract
Crude glycerol is produced in large quantities as a byproduct of biodiesel production. Clostridium pastuerianum is an anaerobic species of bacteria capable of using glycerol as its sole carbon source. C. pasteurianum is known to convert glycerol into n-butanol, which is useful as a fuel additive. In this study, we measured the concentrations of glycerol along with compounds produced by C. pasteurianum, including n-butanol, under varying growth conditions. We found that doubling the initial concentration of glycerol had no noticeable effect on the ability of the bacteria to grow or produce butanol. Based on this finding, we intend to move forwards with a higher concentration of glycerol in order to sustain a continuous culture of bacteria in a bioreactor.
Recommended Citation
Kilroy, Jonathan and Sanchez, Javier
(2017)
"Using Bacteria to Eliminate the Glycerin Glut,"
Perpetua: The Journal of Undergraduate Research at UAH: Vol. 2:
Iss.
1, Article 5.
Available at:
https://louis.uah.edu/perpetua/vol2/iss1/5